ninjanurse

Welcome!

Welcome!

Not my experience. Great for your dojo though!

Check this out ladies (and gents, of course!).....

Welcome...great to hear you are back!

I disagree on the idea that kata "ruins your karate". Basics are basics, whether they are done moving up and down the floor or in a fixed pattern (kata) and they are integral to developing muscles, coordination, balance, movement theory/movement analysis, flexibility, strength, spatial references, distance, visualization, speed of delivery, cardio-vascular endurance, self discipline, and power. The transition to kumite depends on the development and balance of these skills and can only enhance it. I have never seen what has been referred to as "bad habits", such as chambering the hand at the waist, in any students during sparring as just as basics are basics, kumite is kumite. My opinion is that it boils down to personal preference and those that to not like kata (and the discipline involved in it's practice) make excuses for not practicing it and focus instead on other aspects of their art- which is their choice....and loss. As for the question at hand....while kata practice enhances your physical skills it does not guarantee that you will be good enough at kumite to be a champion....and nether does training in just kumite.

Perhaps you need to focus on stretching and strengthening the calves and feet as some people have difficulty with stances and foot shapes due to the inflexibility of these structures-especially the ankles.... I have seen many flat footed students improve their balance by doing this. Strengthening the quads will also help-I experienced this personally after a complex knee surgery that left me with a very weak VMO (vastus medialis oblique) and had significant knee pain in kiba dachi until I was able to strengthen it.

Coming from a traditional shotokan background, mawashi geri was fundamental. Currently I teach a korean style and I often have students come into my school who also have a foundation in karate It takes a lot of convincing for them to accept the "tradtitional" korean style kick-not just their minds, but their bodies too!

I heard today that he was a philosophy major in college (can't remember which one) and started a martial arts club on campus.....will have to investigate this unless someone here already knows.....?

No problems here....wear mine 24/7 and occasionally take them out to clean. A pair of lenses lasts me 90 days and I have never had a problem with them coming out or ripping. Sweat in the eyes happens even without lenses and I really don't haven't noticed irritation either way.

Welcome to Karate Forums!!

Congratulations!

Welcome...enjoy the forums!

Welcome!

I noticed Tai Ji in your background, Heidi. I wonder if learning and performing its forms had an influence on how you feel about kata. A good thought but no...I only recently started learning taiji. The forms are however an excellent "test" of oneself in that respect and I quite enjoy the challenges. Perhaps what's subjective to me is my feeling about its applications--whether or not I actually know the meaning of what I'm doing; to you, the competition itself is judged subjectively. Am I right on the latter? You are correct...the judging is subjective.

We hosted a tournament this weekend and called the local news stations....one of them showed up and we made the news. Any exposure to the public we can get helps....a good reputation and word of mouth is by far one of the best and cheapest forms of advertising!

I do not concern myself with how others interpret and apply kata in a competition setting. I see it as a competition with myself to do it better than I have ever done-to find new meaning each time I perform it. That being said though....I only compete upon request of my Sifu as I too feel that the subjective nature of such events make it less "genuine/personal" in a broader sense.

I have a few "pet" names for some of the younger kids (Pitbull Preston, Noah the Ninja) but we don't generally use nicknames.

Fun!

Now that things are clarifying a bit: Kicking-The general rule is never raise the heel of the base leg. Punching from an established Front Stance-Do not raise heel Punching from a defensive stance/guarding stance with hands up-hip rotation and heel lift is necessary to generate power.

Welcome!

No offense to your teacher, but that makes very little sense. A kiai/kihap is just a forced exhalation of breath. It's mostly to help you get more power out of a technique, like the way power lifters or tennis players grunt. I don't think a loud grunt or yell is different in each language. Maybe you could elaborate a little bit more. I am not totally clear on what he told me i will check but the way i see it is that it is tradition so i do it, just cuz we do it in a dojo doesnt mean we will do it in a real fight and srry for not being more specific haha There are different ways to kiai in certain Japanese forms that are meant to change the expression of energy but I don't recall them having any literal meaning.

Welcome!

I don't think there is ever really enough time to master anything....you can get good but there will always be something you can improve.

Welcome Nick!